Box Score Lindenwood coach Tony Francis said Washburn University has the type of women's basketball program he aspires the Lady Lions to become.

The Ichabods have made 13 straight trips to the NCAA Division II Tournament. They've won the MIAA regular season championship the last two seasons. And their coach, Ron McHenry, has a career winning percentage at the school of .823.

After beating the Ichabods 85-80 in Topeka, Kan. Sunday, and winning seven of their final eight games of 2013, perhaps the Lady Lions are starting to become that kind of team.

"To say that I'm proud of every young lady in that locker room would be an understatement," Francis said after Sunday's win.

Lindenwood outscored Washburn 44-28 in the first half and held off a furious rally by the Ichabods. The Lady Lions improved to 8-3 overall and 3-1 in the MIAA. The Ichabods fell to 6-4 and 2-2. It was the last game of 2013 for the Lady Lions who next take the court at Hyland Arena Jan. 4 against Pittsburg State.

Freshman Kassidy Gengenbacher led the Lady Lions with 23 points. Gengenbacher, the Lady Lions leading scorer this season, made 6 of 10 three-point baskets. It was the sixth straight game Gengenbacher has scored in double figures. She responded from her worst shooting performance of the season Friday against Nebraska-Kearney with one of her best.

"Kassidy set the tone for us in the first half," Francis said. 

Teammates Jenny Rocha (16 points) and Morgan Johnson (12) also scored in double figures for the Lady Lions. Rocha had seven assists for the second time in three games and is fifth in the MIAA with 4.3 per game.

"We got back to a good pace on offense," Francis said. "This was Jenny's most complete game on offense, defense and confidence."

Former MIAA Player of the Week Casyn Buchman led the Ichabods with 27 points which tied a career high.

After one of their poorest shooting performances of the season in Friday's loss to Nebraska-Kearney, the Lady Lions shot  51.6 percent from the field Sunday to help gift wrap another win.

"Outside any Christmas present my wife gets me, this was the best one," Francis said. "It was great to see the pride and emotion the girls had after the game."